Food Truck regulations Raises More Questions than Answers

October 4, 2018/

Cheesie’s was among the vendors at a 2017 Food Vehicle Rally at Keystone Park in River Forest.

Elmhurst aldermen on the city’s Growth, Preparation as well as Zoning Board checking out changing city policies to permit hot food vehicles around are finding that existing city laws on mobile food systems aren’t being adhered to.

City guidelines call for licenses for mobile food units, consisting of gelato trucks as well as the canteen trucks that generally bring ready food, coffee and also various other beverages to work sites. Ald. Michael Honquest, Mark Mulliner and also Noel Talluto learnt through city personnel Monday that only one ice cream truck operated this year with the necessary city permit.

A later check verified there were no other mobile food device permits or revivals in 2016 or 2017.

Honquest claimed because case, he was struck by the variety of gelato operators passing by his house who are obviously running illegally. He stated he was especially worried that drivers offering to youngsters were without license and have no background check.

Employee also verified that no mobile food unit suppliers have completed the city’s easy one-page sales tax form, so the city is not getting any type of sales tax earnings from mobile food sales.

Honquest as well as the various other committee participants said they remained in no rush to make a suggestion to the City board, yet asked staff to gather even more info. Additional conversation is likely ahead at one of the committee’s on Nov. 12 or 26.

Honquest claimed he was still available to allowing the food trucks, which prepare warm food aboard the trucks, somewhere around. Those operations would likely be at some specific downtown locations at off peak times.

In conversations earlier this month, board participants discussed allowing the vehicles to run from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Talluto claimed she was worried that some downtown bars and restaurants keep open past 10 p.m., so food trucks could be a direct competitor for those places. She questioned could attract teenagers too young to go to the bars.

Mulliner asked his team to look at how other towns are regulating the food operations and also whether they are doing background look at operators.

All 3 aldermen have actually said they want to manage the trucks in a way that does not reduce business for existing restaurants and bars.

John Quigley, CEO of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said no official position has been taken, but he is still in line with his thinking.

” The city needs to do whatever in its power to support brick-and-mortar over mobile,” Quigley claimed.

Tom Paravola, executive supervisor of the Elmhurst City Centre organization, stated his team was adamantly opposed to the trucks in downtown.

Aldermen suggested trucks to be allowed at block parties, and special events.